The fall of the Assad regime and Syria’s future: Reflections from Syrian writers, artists, and journalists in the ICORN network

‘Riddles’ by Kholoud Charaf

Around the shoes –

Rebuilding homes of warmth –

A bomb

Around a house –

Gathering blocks of childhood brick by brick –

Escape

The world gets lost

But the astrologer can find it

And misunderstood Death is its conflict and its riddle

Who does the poem belong to?

We are found by water

And the earth is ours

All this earth is ours –

Fire is only for its bearers

The sky is still flowered

Life still carries poets

On the back of the olive tree

To burn it at the first frost

Whose is the earth

And who are we

Coming from water

Water is ours

So is love

And the poetry within us grows in power

We are like you

We have a yesterday trodden by memory

We use it to arrange the stories of past nights

And while we wait for life,we dig up cactus

We are like you

We name our names in the cracks of our homes

We lowered a pillow onto the moon

On our bed so we could dream

We are

Like you

But the flood

Scaled the bowers of our dreams

We are still waiting

For an olive branch

And a dove

We are like you

We have a homeland

But it is resistant

To clarification

Ali Al Ibrahim

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Ali Al Ibrahim, the award-winning investigative journalist, lecturer, and founder of the SIRAJ unit for investigative journalism, who was an ICORN resident in Jönköping from 2016 to 2018, reflected:

‘The fall of dictator Bashar Al-Assad's regime marks the end of a dark chapter in Syria’s history. For over a decade, Syrians have endured unspeakable suffering—mass displacement, the destruction of cities, and the loss of countless lives. This moment, though long-awaited, is not just the collapse of a regime but an opportunity to redefine what Syria stands for: justice,freedom, and dignity for all.

As an investigative journalist, my work has focused on exposing the abuses of power and systemic corruption that have plagued Syria under Assad's rule. From tracking stolen assets to documenting human rights violations, it has always been about amplifying the voices of the silenced. Now, it is time to turn the spotlight toward rebuilding trust and accountability.

While this is a time to celebrate resilience and the unyielding spirit of the Syrian people, we must also confront the challenges ahead. The collapse of a dictatorship does not automatically guarantee democracy. It demands vigilance, transparency, and a collective commitment to building institutions that prioritise people over power.

This moment belongs to those who dreamed of freedom in the darkest of times. It is a call to ensure that their sacrifices were not in vain. Let this be the dawn of a Syria that embraces truth and reconciliation—a Syria where every individual,regardless of background, can live with dignity and hope.’

Hussein Al-Dahir

Poet,writer, and journalist Hussein Al-Dahir, who began his ICORN residency in Færder in June 2024, shared:

‘From the very first day of the fall of the criminal Assad regime, I have been glued to the screen, not celebrating liberation as much as searching for someone I know among the displaced in the streets of Damascus. Men, women,and children, some of whom have lost their memory due to torture, some have gone completely mad, some whose physical condition does not allow them to move,and some who have not realized that they have come out of the death camps at all. They all share one thing: they have come out of a very narrow cell into avast expanse of loss. They do not know where to go, who is still alive to meet,or what is left for them in this life. Yes, our homeland, which we always thought united us in love, is today a desolate space that embraces thousands of displaced people.

This morning, while I was flipping through photos found in the infamous 601 Hospital, I spotted someone I might know. I brought the photo closer to my eyes and then moved it away, scrutinising the young man's features, feeling my heartbeat accelerate and tremble. Yes, it is Omar Al-Mulla, my relative who was arrested without charge more than ten years ago. I read the news accompanying the photos: ‘These photos are of people who were executed inside 601 Hospital.’I immediately called his brother to send him the photo to confirm. After careful examination, silence filled the call, then he said:

‘Yes, it is my brother Omar…. Now he has gained his freedom…Now we are freed from hope.’

If he had come out alive today, he would have died hundreds of times over his missing wife and daughter. Just as we have been dying with every piece of news about the detainees and the dead.

In the meantime, who will convince the sea to empty its stomach of our remains? And who will convince the killers that the remnants of blood on their faces have become a tattoo that only death can erase?’

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Mohammad Habeeb

Mohammad Habeeb is a well-known writer, translator, teacher, and activist who was in ICORN residence in Stavanger between 2015 and 2017. Below is a poem by Habeeb, written on 17 December 2024:

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Raafat Hekmat

Poet and short story writer Raafat Hekmat, currently in ICORN residence in Stockholm, said:

It is true that, even now, we do not fully understand where the gateway which we crossed by toppling this dictatorial regime will lead us. The Trojan horse that brought us victory this time carries an ideology that may not appeal to everyone and may even stir fear and anxiety about the future. Yet, on the other hand, witnessing the flood of detainees emerging from the undergroundcells of the ‘tyrant's prisons’ into the streets and squares of our cities, and seeing the locks of some of the world’s most notorious detention centres shattered, gives us, as Syrians, a sense that the future—no matter how uncertain—holds a glimmer of hope, however faint it maybe.

We are fully aware that, from the very first moments of the revolution,the country in all its components was exposed to every possible outcome—salvation or ruin. We also know that it has endured unimaginable destruction, massacres, and chaos, from which Assad and his backers emerged as the greatest beneficiaries. Moreover, we recognise that what the country is experiencing today is just another of those possibilities. However, the difference this time is that the impossible has been realized, and the dream of survival has become tangible. The struggle, both in its symbolic and literal sense, was never merely a confrontation between two sides, nor was it solely about ‘overthrowing the regime’. The greatest challenge lies not just in dismantling a system but in building a nation.

Syria’s future will not be determined solely by who governs tomorrow but by how its people overcome the heavy legacy of fear and division. It will depend on their ability to craft a new national identity that mends the fractures caused by decades of tyranny.

A people who has overthrown one of the most brutal regimes of the modern era are undoubtedly capable of confronting the challenges ahead.However, the struggle is no longer just a battle between tyranny and freedom.It is now a battle between a past that refuses to fade and a future that must be forged with clean hands and ideas broad enough to include everyone.

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Kholoud Charaf

Poet,writer, and activist Kholoud Charaf, who was in ICORN residence in Krakow between 2018-2020, shared her reflections alongside her poem:

‘December 8 marks a historic turning point for all Syrians and will be celebrated as a national holiday. It symbolises the beginning of Syria's journey towards democracy and freedom, a decisive moment when the chains of fear and oppression were broken. The tyrant, Bashar al-Assad, has fled to Moscow. Do people around the world grasp the significance of openly calling him a tyrant? This alone shatters the walls of fear,humiliation, starvation, displacement, and mass murder imposed on Syrians by him and his Ba’ath Party—a party that thrived on the blood of our people to sustain the luxury and power of the Assad family.

Now, two tyrants—Assad and Putin—stand together in Moscow. It seems inevitable that Putin will face a fate similar to this fugitive dictator. Even now, I can hardly believe that Assad fled. I find myself wondering how to celebrate amidst the mixed emotions of seeing prisons opened and tortured souls emerging—broken,disoriented, and fearful—while countless others remain in hidden detention centres still beyond our reach.

How can one fully rejoice when witnessing the long-buried truths of decades of massacres being exposed to the world? Entire generations were lost, their lives extinguished, their bodies piled in countless atrocities now documented for all to see.

Do you understand what it means for a Syrian—after enduring decades of unspeakable suffering—to finally speak freely without fear? To say, without hesitation,that the world wronged us by supporting a regime that starved,displaced, and slaughtered its own people? This moment is not only the end of tyranny but the beginning of reclaiming our humanity and dignity.

Many Syrians and observers likely feel a mix of emotions—relief at the possibility of change, grief over the immense losses, and cautious hope for the future.Some might feel vindication after decades of hardship under dictatorship,while others may experience disbelief given the long struggle against oppression.

The nearest future of Syria

Syria's immediate future depends heavily on how political transition,reconstruction, and reconciliation are handled. Challenges include rebuilding institutions,addressing war crimes, and fostering economic recovery. Success will require collaboration among Syrians and substantial international support,but progress may be uneven.

The presence of figures like Ahmed al-Shara'a (Abu Mohammad al-Jolani),leader of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, previously al-Nusra Front), complicates the future of Syria, particularly given his history and the group's ties to extremism.While HTS has distanced itself from al-Qaeda and tried to re-brand itself as a legitimate opposition force, it remains controversial, both locally and internationally. This history, coupled with HTS's continued dominance in parts of northern Syria, raises concerns about its role in Syria's reconstruction and democratization process.

If Jolani and his organization aim to participate in the broader political landscape, their ability to shed their extremist past and contribute constructively to Syria's future remains questionable. The international community and local stakeholders must carefully address such dynamics, ensuring that extremist elements do not undermine efforts toward inclusive governance and justice.

Therefore, while Syria's future depends heavily on collaborative and inclusive political rebuilding, the presence of HTS and leaders like Jolani poses significant challenges to establishing lasting peace and stability.’

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Sara Khayat

Continuing her work as a feminist visual artist and graphic designer during her ICORN residency in the Swedish town of Gävle, Sara Khayat contributed through both art and words:

It’s 6:10 PM in Damascus, Syria, finally free from Bashar al-Assad. The announcement flashed on TV that night, a night no Syrian around the world could sleep. We could hardly believe it — the regime that oppressed us for so long had fallen. The world cheered, and for a brief moment, it felt like a dream.

In the midst of this dream, horrific truths about the detainees in Assad’s prisons came to light. Freed prisoners emerged, many broken physically and mentally from the unimaginable torture. We learned of entire underground cities turned into prisons, where human dignity was destroyed.

Every Syrian family, directly or indirectly, suffered at the hands of this regime. Pain became the common bond between us all. As the chaos spread,we began searching for the missing. Names of the disappeared circulated wildly on social media, while crucial documents that could reveal the truth were burned or destroyed. We must ask, where were the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations? Billions were spent for this day, yet where are these organisations now when the need to protect the truth is most urgent?

This issue is not secondary; it is our fundamental right — to know the fate of our loved ones. We demand the release of all those forcibly disappeared, not only from the regime’s prisons but from every faction that holds the disappeared. What has happened in Syria is the result of a corrupt,oppressive regime. But even amid the destruction, we hold on to hope for a new Syria — a Syria for all, a secular and democratic nation that protects everyone’s rights and freedoms. A Syria that respects minorities and grants dignity to every person.

The role of women in the Syrian revolution cannot be overlooked. Women have been the backbone of this movement — leading protests, standing up in prisons, enduring unimaginable loss, and fighting for freedom despite the threats they faced. In the new Syria, women are essential. They are not just supporters but co-builders of the future.

Our task now is clear. The revolution did not end with the fall of the regime; the true work begins now, in rebuilding a country that belongs to all of us. Just as we rose against tyranny 13 years ago, we will rise again against any force that tries to take our freedom. This is not Assad’s Syria, it is Syria the Great — the land of freedom, a land that no power can defeat.

We are the children of this land, and we will dream of a Syria that is free, democratic, and true to its history. We will stand by our causes,especially Palestine, and will never retreat from our fight for justice and human dignity.

Our revolution lives on. The hope for Syria, the Great, is alive in our hearts. Syria will rise again, uniting its people on the path to freedom and justice.’